The Great Plains are a harsh ecosystem shaped through the ages by highly variable temperatures, lack of surface water, extended periods of drought, and constant wind. In this environment, drought-resistant native grasses with extensive root systems evolved to hold the ground against the raking winds, and to capture carbon from the atmosphere and return it to the soil. As the grasslands evolved, so too, did grazing and browsing ruminants like bison, antelope, and deer. As the ruminants thrived, predators—including humans—followed.

Grass, livestock and people were all key to the health of this harsh environment. Holistic management pioneer Allan Savory coined the term brittle several years ago to describe this ecosystem.

In all but the driest years, grasses in a britttle environment produce about one-third more growth than will decompose. Without grazing animals or fire to remove that excess growth, this ecosystem slowly collapses. In balance, the animals remove the excess growth, and fertilize the soil with their excrement. The animals convert the cellulose of grass to protein, which is then consumed by humans and other predators. And, the healthy grassland removes excess carbon from the atmosphere.

As illustrated in Dust Bowl, the sodbusters shattered the brittle balance of the Great Plains environment. The result was one of the top man-made environmental catastrophes in recorded history.

It’s easy to brush this off as being isolated in one small corner of the American ecosystem. After all, most of Dust Bowl centered on the tiny strip of land known as the Oklahoma Panhandle.

But, it’s not just the Panhandle, and it’s not just the southern Great Plains. It’s not even just North America. Native grasslands account for more than 40 percent of the North American ecosystem, with much of that land falling well into the brittle category. Around the world, more than 30 percent of the landmass qualifies as grasslands. It’s called the Steppes in Russia, the Pampas in South America, and the Savanna in Africa.

In the proper balance, livestock play a critical role in sustaining those environments. Grasslands grazed properly under livestock capture atmospheric carbon, protect soils from erosion, and sustain life without depleting precious water resources.

Livestock production done wrongly can damage the environment. An environment without livestock would be much worse.

Dave Carter studied journalism at University of Northern Colorado but found his true calling working with farmers and ranchers at the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union for 25 years. He’s now the executive director of the National Bison Association.